I'm Chevy Chase... and You're Not

by Rena Fruchter

Chevy Chase is a much-loved Hollywood star. His success as a writer and actor on Saturday Night Live in the 1970s made him a household name, but it had been a long, hard route to the top for Chevy-behind the fame lay a childhood riddled with abuse. But his remarkable strength and determination helped him rise above it and find his talent as an actor, writer, comedian, and musician. Best known for his role in the National Lampoon's Vacation series Chevy has starred in some of the greatest comedies of our time. Now, for the first time, Chevy speaks openly and candidly about his career, his personal struggle with drugs, his friendships with three presidents, and his family life. Honest, funny, and informative, this is the complex and fascinating world of Chevy Chase.

Genres: Biography, Comedy, Biography Memoir, Nonfiction, Memoir, Autobiography, Humor

244 pages, Hardcover

First published March 6, 2007

Reviews

[Karla · Rating 2 out of 5]

All the things I learned about Chevy Chase were very interesting, but I haven't read anything so poorly-written that actually got published in a while. The author has no objectivity and consistently fawns over Chase. This is expected in an authorized biography, but it was nauseating. Chase never made a mistake, if he made a bad movie it was always as a "favor", things on set were only bad when Chevy didn't trust his instincts. That might be true, but puh-leeze. The lack of humility (Chase) and the hero-worship of Fruchter was irritating. I mean, it was like listening to Ecker talk about Bobby Knight! (Ashley and Bev, that tidbit is for you. Actually, I thought I'd loan the book to Mike since he's such a big Fletch fan.) The author has worse transitions than I've read in high school compositions and is constantly repeating facts. The initial reason I wanted to read it is because I read Kaffir Boy and Mark Mathabane wrote praises of Ned Chase, Chevy's father, who was an editor and helped Mathabane publish his book about South African apartheid. When I heard Chevy had been abused in childhood, I wondered if it was by his father, the editor. Turns out, it was Chevy's mother and stepfather. Anyway, when I got past the bad writing, the story about Chevy was pretty interesting.

[Patrick DiJusto · Rating 3 out of 5]

according to this book, the people in Hollywood who don't like Chevy Chase just don't understand how intelligent he is. And how he doesn't suffer fools easily. The people who think he's incredibly arrogant, simply don't understand how Superior he truly is to the average human being. The people who make fun of the crappiness of some of his recent movies, don't know that Chevy offered helpful creative suggestions to the director on how they could save the movie, but unfortunately no one listened to him.

I understand that the authorized biography of a person is likely to hide the subject's flaws. But this went beyond biography into haigography - no one could be as flawless as Chevy Chase is in this book.

Contrast this with the book live from New York, the history of Saturday Night Live. In that book, Chevy is the recurring villain popping up periodically to torment not just the First cast but subsequent casts until he was banned from the show. While no one is probably that bad, the truth about Chevy Chase probably lies midway between these two books.

[Beverly Zearley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning more about Chevy Chase. I didn't realize he had such a sad childhood. I found it hard at times to stay focused in this book, there was a lot of disorganization, not a real good biography for such a funny guy!! But I have a list of movies he was in that I want to see that I haven't!

[Trav Rockwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Chevy Chase so this was a must read. Abused as a child describing horrible beatings he received off his mother and step father growing up, then to become one of the greatest comedians in the business. All credit to Chevy, a good read if your a fan. Wasn't a fan of Rena Fruchter writing however.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chase candidly reveals the hell that was his childhood with an abusive mother and ineffective father. His journey is a compelling one, not new by all means, but a study in overcoming tough beginnings to eventual peace of mind.

[Paul Reid · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could of been a really entertaining biography, of a person I’m a fan of and who is clearly a “character”.
Instead, it’s rose tinted, and you miss the stuff you really want to know in a biography/autobiography - stories, their thoughts on people and situations - and this book really just goes through his life without any great thought to making it readable and enjoyable.
There’s pages where sketches and parts of films are just described, and it doesn’t read well.
Chevy seems like a nice guy, but you don’t really get to know him any better after reading this.

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

A love letter to Chevy Chase, & not a very good one.

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a fan so it was cool/interesting to have some background. The organization of the book and the writing was pretty bad and I had a tough time getting through it.

[Kitt-e-kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew up watching Chevy Chase, Steve Martin and Richard Pryor. All these comedians have created that one classic movie favorite. Chevy's was National Lampoon's Family Vacation. Chevy started out having an abusive childhood growing up by his mom and father(s). His mother battled mental problems and didn't know how to disciplined her kids properly without being abusive to them. By the trauma Chevy dealt with growing up, I am surprised he didn't grow up getting more involved into drugs and alcohol later on in life. He did dabble at that stuff but really didn't get into it hardcore like Belushi. He gets into alittle bit about his drug use but not in full detail. He also gets into every movies he's done and how they all didn't succeeded a hit at the box office. His book is interesting to read from beginning to almost the end. At the end he rambles on about politics and "Bush Bashing" so I got turned off and bored immediately. I'm not into politics and feel everyone has their freedom to speak their mind but I don't want to pay $25.00 for a book for talking about politics when I can turn on the news for free. So other than that, I still think National Lampoon's Family Vacation & The Jerk rules and I will always watch them over and over again.

[Clare Bear]

Some funny Fletch quotes:
Gail Stanwyck: What are you doing here?
Fletch: I ordered some lunch.
Gail Stanwyck: You ordered it here?
Fletch: Well, I knew this is where my mouth would be.


Alan Stanwyck: You'll be wearing rubber gloves. Do you own rubber gloves?
Fletch: I rent 'em. I have a lease with an option to buy.

KKK Leader: Folks ain't home. Cross won't burn. Hell, it ain't like it used to be.

Doorman: Name?
Fletch: Ah...Irwin M Fletcher. Irwin Mahatma Fletcher.
Doorman: Address?
Fletch: 7.


Jimmy Lee Farnsworth: Erwin, admit that you are a sinner.
Fletch: Uh. Well, I've sinned. I didn't take any Polaroids or anything. But, yeah, I've sinned.
Jimmy Lee Farnsworth: The Lord forgives ya!
Fletch: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Amen. What? Other sins? Uh, I parked in a handicap spot on my way up here. Actually, on a handicap person. I told him I'd be back in five minutes, so that's not such a big deal.


ahhhh, killing myself here...he he

[Frederick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've only read the first few chapters of this authorized biography, but, inasmuch as it is authorized, this is Chevy Chase's announcement that he was seriously abused as a child. The opening pages are harrowing. It has been said often that comedians have very sad lives, but Chevy Chase must have tremendous reserves of inner strength to have survived the physical and psychological savagery inflicted upon him in his childhood.
A lot of people will ignore this book because they'll think it's just another showbiz whitewash. From the fraction I've read I can see that this book will ramble. But we have, for the first time, a clue to the background of a man who, for two years in the mid-seventies, charmed a TV audience tired of sitcoms and Johnny Carson. The funny faces he'd make behind Emily Littella's back were the sort of faces Chevy Chase made as he was growing up, when he wanted laughter to chase away the enforced misery of his experience.

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was surprised that I did not like this biography. The fault was not with Chevy Chase, but with the biographer, Rena Fruchter. The writing was disorganized and repeated itself. I was also expecting more to be said about Chevy Chase's depression and his recovery, but there were only a few sentences written about it. It was also a little out of date, mentioning nothing about his work on Community. I liked the information about Chevy and his experiences, but the writing was a real obstacle in the way of getting through the book. I would only read this book if you wanted to know more about Chevy and you could not get a copy of the Biography Channel version.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've really enjoy the movies I've seen with Chevy Chase in them, so was interested to learn more about him. However I was very disappointed with this biography as it seemed very biased. All the praise was over-the-top and nothing was ever said negatively about Chevy. According to this book, every movie he made that hasn't done well are ones he said things should be changed, and since the changes weren't made he knew it wouldn't do well, and the ones that succeeded are mostly because of him. There was also a lot of repetitiveness and that was just boring. Besides the beginning it wasn't that great of a read and I wouldn't recommend it.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this because Chevy Chase was one of the founding members of SNL and also an alum of my brother's college, Haverford (though he didn't graduate due to getting kicked out for pulling so many pranks!). Chevy's story is quite upsetting; it was difficult to read about the mental and physical abuse he endured as a child, but it also sheds light on why his humor is so raw and sometimes chafing.

You also realize how brilliant he is, as a comedian and an intellectual.

I enjoyed this book, but someone who is not a fan of his work would probably find his story irrelevant.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've heard that Chevy Chase could be a real asshole. I read in "Live from New York" about some of his behavior when he was there to host, so I was appalled. They say this was before he went into rehab, whatever. "I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not" was written by a serious fan who doesn't really say anything bad about Chase. She delves into his abusive childhood and skims over bad things he may have done. Better than if Goldman had written it, but not 'the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.' This is a really biased account.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at the life of Chevy Chase. Although not written by Chevy Chase himself, he provides a lot of content for the book. Beginning with his childhood this book brings to light a lot of knowledge that is unknown about the actor, how he thinks and processes and what he believes and perceives his career to be.

A deep thinker, with a very political mind and friends from different walks of life give this book a life of its own. You continue to read to find out what is going to happen, even though it has already happened.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but ultimately slightly disappointing biography of the funny man most often associated with early Saturday Night Live, the Vacation movies, and Caddyshack. The biographical revelations are truly fascinating, and explain his comedic style. However, the writing style for the book is quite flat and lifeless -- there was no "flow" and at times it merely felt like a litany of facts and figures and less a portrayal of Chevy's life and influences. I'd recommend this to die-hard SNL fans looking for Chevy's version of the first season, but otherwise it was something of a disappointment.

[Dave Rockwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Chevy in the 1980s. While Chevy participate with this biography it felt cold and distant and avoided the things that most readers would have like for it to engage. It did delve into the demize of a brillant career, but falls short recognizing the stellar heights of the career of a man whose talent faded before it should have.

[Jessa Callaver · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was somewhat unorthodox which isn't in itself a bad thing but made for a somewhat disjointed read. That said, Chevy's story is an interesting one regardless of the structure of Fruchter's presentation. Ultimately, I like the subject matter more than I liked the book and that hasn't changed.

[Merrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've learned that I fall into the category of "I'll ssee any movie this man appears in because I loved Fletch" but it has been fascinating to learn more about his past. Just a little personal indulgence. I don't recommend it if you've never been to Wally World while they're closed.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in a few nights. I really enjoyed it. Insight to his past; childhood, early movies, why he left SNL... Some funny stuff, some sad abusive stuff. I've always loved Chevy Chase, and this book gave me no reason to change my mind.

[Ellen]

Just couldn't get into a book about a child being thrown into the basement and beaten by his crazy mother and then, the child turned out to be Chevy Chase who is a wounded little boy in an adult's body. Get over it was my first thought.

[Marcus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very disappointed with this book because of the author. The book was poorly written, as if I was reading an essay from a high school student. I am a fan of Chevy Chase and enjoy his work, but this book was awful.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book goes out of its way to absolve Chevy Chase of any responsibility for anything that wasn't great in his career and it gets weird. There are also half page (or more) plot summaries of all of his films and television appearances for some reason.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it cover to cover in one sitting, which I never do. Sure, I had to give it to Brad the next day as a birthday present but...I really liked it.

[Chelsea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. What a downer. Let me give you a snyopsis--everything you would get from this book, without the pain. Chevy Chase had a sucko life. It's surprising that he's so funny. The end.

[Nancy Weyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked reading about Chevy Chase, but I did not care for the author's writing style.

[Garryvivianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Chevy Chase. Sad to hear he had such a horrible childhood with his abusive and crazy mother. I am glad he overcame the terrible upbringing to become the star he is.

[Margaret · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thought it would be interesting. The author did an awful job, every chapter was very redundant she could have done him more justice.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at an interesting character. If you weren't a fan before, you may be after reading this book.